Burial vault



Dm, 1o, 1935.

v. G1 KROPP 2,@2345047 BURIAL VAULT .Filed Oct. 22, 1934 Z4 13 13 7 Z5'Z0 75 l a Ifernon 65. 117120107@ '5. struction and PatentedA Dec. 10,1935 UNITEDY STATES PATENT OFFICE BURIAL VAULT Vernon G. Kropp,Winfield, Kans. Application October 22, 1934, Serial No. 749,491 2Claims. (Cl. 'l2-7,)

form a shoulder I and a reduced upper part B. I

This invention relates to a burial vault and has for its object toprovide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, a vault of such classincluding a cover plate sealed in covering position and capable of beingreadily removed when occasion requires without breakage thereof ordamage thereto.

A further object of the invention is to provide, in a manner ashereinafter set forth, a vault of the class referred to including alower chamber for the reception of the corpse or a casket containing thecorpse, means for forming an upper chamber communicating with the lowerchamber for the escape from the latter of the gases and vapors due todecomposition, and with the said means constituting a closure for thelower chamber.

A further ob-ject of the invention is to provide, in a manner ashereinafter set forth, a vault of the class referred to including asealed closure thereof and with the sealing means possessing acharacteristic to permit of the closure being removed without breakagethereof or damage thereto when access is desired to the interior ofthevault.

A further object of the invention is to provide, in a manner ashereinafter set forth, a vault of the class referred to including aplastic sealing means for the top thereof and which will permit of thevault being opened without .destroying or breaking the top.

Further objects of the invention are to provide, in a manner ashereinafter set forth, a vault of the class referred to which is simplein its conarrangement, strong, durable, compact, readily assembled,thoroughly efhcient in its use, and comparatively inexpensive tomanufacture.

To the above ends essentially, and to others which may hereinafterappear, the invention consists of such parts and such combination ofparts which fall Within the scope of the invention as claimed.

In the drawing:

Figure l is a longitudinal sectional vault,

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the vault, and

Figure 3 is a cross sectional view of the vault at the transverse medianthereof.

The vault includes a rectangular open top body I formed from reinforcedand water cured concrete. The body I consists of a bottom 2, a pair ofside walls 3, 4 and a pair of end Walls 5, 6. The said bottom and wallsare imperforatedf Each of said walls israbbeted on its inner face toView of the The shoulder 'I on each side wall corresponds in length tothe length of the latter. The shoulder 'I on each end vvall correspondsin length to the width of the latter. The ends of the shoulders on theside walls merge into the ends of the shoulders on the end Walls therebyproviding an endless ledge on the inner face of the walls of body I. Theshould-ers on the side Walls are positioned between the longitudinalmedians of the said side Walls and top edges of the latter. Theshoulders on the end walls are positioned between the transverse mediansof the said end walls and top edges of the latter. That part of the bodyI below the endless ledge forms a lower chamber 9 for receiving thecorpse or a receptacle containing the corpse.

A sectional closure, generally indicated at I0 for chamber 9 is mountedon the endless edge and abuts the inner face of the part 8 of eachof thewalls of body I. The closure I0 is of less height than the parts 8. Theclosure includes a rectangular fiat plate II of any suitable materialhaving at the intersection of its transverse and longitudinal medians atapered opening I2. The plate II forms that portion of the body I abovethe endless edge into what may be termed an upper chamber. The plate IIhas its upper face centrally thereof provided with an annular taperedboss I3 having a tapered inner edge IA forming a continuation of thetapered wall I5 of opening I2. The opening i2 and boss I3 provide anoutlet for chamber 9. The closure I0 includes an inverted cup-shapedmember I6 of rectangular contour, but of less width and length than thatY of plate II. The member I5 is of frusto-tapered contour. The member IGis formed from any suitable material and includes a top I'I, a pair ofdepending outwardly oppositely inclined end walls I8 and a pair ofdepending outwardly oppositely .f

The walls I8, I9 at theirinclined side walls i9. upper ends merge intothe lower face of and are ush with the edges of top IB. The lower endsof the walls I3, ISl'are squared and seat upon plate II adjacent theside and end edges of the latter. The member I6 in connection with theplate II provides a rectangular compartment 20 in the upper chamber ofbody i for receiving, through the outlet for chamber 9, the gases andvapors from decomposition of the corpse within cham- .n

ber 9. Y

The walls i8, I9 of member IS are spaced from the parts 8 of the walls3, 5, and 6 of body I. The top II of member I6 is positioned below theupper edges of the parts The sectional Cil closure I0, in connectionwith theparts B, form a pocket 2| having its bottom upon two levels, oneprovided by the top Il of member I6 and the other by the portions of theplate II which are extended outwardly from the bottom edges of the wallsI8, I9. The pocket 2| is completely lled with a combined coupling andsealing means or medium 22 consisting of a fresh body 22 of plasticcement which may be of a suitable type, such as silica sand and Portlandcement.

Positioned upon the top edge of the walls 3, 4, 5, and 6 is a lid 23 ofrectangular contour in plan. The upper face of the lid 23 is oppositelybeveled as at 24, 25. The bevel 24 is of greater width than bevel 25 andis adapted to have cut therein or applied thereto any desirableinscription.. That part 26 of the outer face of lid 23 between thebevels 24, 25 is rounded transversely so as to readily shed water. Thelid 23 is formed from terra cotta, marble, granite or other desirablematerial. The lid 23 when mounted upon the topr edges of the walls ofbody I and that portion of the lower face of lid 23 between the side andend marginal portions of such face bears throughout against the means 22whereby the lid is detachably secured in position upon the top edges ofbody II by the combined coupling and sealing means 22. The lid 23 is notgrooved or dovetailed into any of the other parts of the vault, has itslower face smooth and uninterrupted throughout. The lid 23 preferablyhas its edges flush with the outer faces of the walls of body I. The lid23 may be readily removed by driving a chisel or other wedge shape toolunder it to provide for the loosening thereof from body 22 withoutdamaging orimpairing it, after which it is lifted off of body I. Whenthe lid 23 has been lifted off of body I, the plastic sealing body 22may be removed and the elements of the sectional closure I may be liftedfrom the position shown whereby access may be had to chamber 9.

What I claim is:

1. A burial vault comprising an open top and closed bottom receptaclepart of rectangular contour, theupper portions of the sides and ends ofsaid part being oi' reduced thickness with respect to the lower portionsof the sides and ends of the part to provide the latter with an internalendless rib at the junction of said portions, a flat rectangularpartition plate seated upon and throughout said ledge and having itsedges bearing throughout against the inner face of the said upperportions adjacent said ledge, said plate dividing said part into anupper and a lower chamber, said plate being formed centrally thereofwith an opening and an annular boss on its upper face having its inneredge forming an upward continuation of the wall of said opening, an

inverted hollow open bottom frusta-tapered member mounted on and formingin connection with said plate a rectangular compartment within and ofless height than said upper chamber, the top, side and end walls of saidcompartment being imperforate, the side and end walls of saidcompartment being spaced throughout from the side and end walls of saidupper chamber, said boss and opening coacting to provide an intake forsaid compartment at the bottom of the latter, a lid seating upon the topedges of said part, and a combined coupling and sealing means withinsaid upper chamber, said means completely enclosing said member andengaging that portion throughout of the inner face of the lid betweenthe side Y and end marginal'portion of such face, said means 15Yrespectively for detachably connecting the lid in edge engagingposition, sealing said upper chamber and compartment and preventing theshifting of said member relative to said plate.

2. A burial vault comprising an open top and closed bottom receptaclepart of rectangular contour, the upper portions of the sides and ends ofsaid part being of reduced thickness with respect to the lower portionsof the sides and ends of the part to provide the latter with an internalendless rib at the junction of said portions, a iiat rectangularpartition plate seated upon and throughout said ledge and having itsedges bearing throughout against the inner face of the said upperportions adjacent said ledge, said plate di- 30 viding said part into anupper and a lower chamber, said plate being formed centrally thereofwith an opening and an annular boss on its upper face having its inneredges forming an upward continuation of the wall of said opening, aninverted hollow open bottom frusto-tapered member mounted on and formingin connection with said plate a rectangular compartment within and ofless height than said upper chamber, the top,

side and end walls of said compartment being imperforate, the side andend walls of said compartment being spaced throughout from the side andVend walls of said upper chamber, said boss and opening coacting toprovide an intake for said compartment at the bottom of the latter, alid seating upon the top edges of said part, and a combined coupling andsealing means within said upper chamber, said means completely enclosingsaid member and engaging that portion throughout of the inner face ofthe lid between the side v and end marginal portion of such face, saidmeans respectively for detachably connecting the lid 'in edge engagingposition, sealing said upper chamber and compartment and preventing theshifting of said member relative to said plate, said boss bein-g formedwith tapered inner and outer edges and the wall of said opening beingtapered.

VERNON G. KROPP.

